I'm 5'6", a cold sleeper, side sleeper with a knee pulled up so I need a bit of room and since I do most of my trips in the PNW, wetness is an issue. I have a waterproof bivy sack but it would be nice to have the option of not taking it. That said, I don't usually bivy so I don't necessarily want to lug extra weight around the rest of the time.

Whaddya think? What's the lightest, comfiest, most weather proof bag out there these days?

Last edited by MountaingirlBC on Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I have a MH Phantom 32 (lighter than what you were looking at) that my kid used when we went to the Sierra last month. We slept out a lot and it seemed to get damp/wet from frost/dew more easily than other bags. This might be because it was thinner, but it is probably not as weatherproof as some of those other bags (such as the one with Event). Still think it's a good bag, and don't think this would usually be an issue as I'm usually in a tent or bivy sack. Probably cheaper than some of those other lightweight bags, too.

I have the Phantom 15 and love it. but I dont know about the wetness, I am from Southern California and I have gotten the bag a bit wet once or twice, it seems like it held its heat pretty well, and it dried quite fast because the shell is so thin. The bag is a bit tight width wise, every so often i realize I cannot stretch my legs out as much as id like. Overall a great bag though!

Thx everyone... I'm totally open to other suggestions too btw. I'd carry a few extra oz and pay a little more for a bag that was made locally too. I am pretty wetness paranoid so thx for the heads up about the phantom. I find that the bag I have now gets damp just from the condensation in the tent which isn't a big deal if you're leaving it in the tent in the hot sun all day but sucks if you have to stuff it damp in the morning.

I have had an inch of snow on my Alpinlte and countless mornings have awaken to a very damp top layer... NEVER DAMP inside the bag though. And, the MF Shell is totally dry within 5 minutes when laid out in the morning sun to dry.

BTW: Both the WM's Ultralite & Alpinlite are lighter and cheaper than Marmot's comparable Helium. For the same price of the Helium, ya can get WM's Versalite which is still lighter and rated lower at 10F.

I have the Helium and have been very happy with it, although it does get damp from condensation. I know the regular version (mens) comes in an EQ (waterproof) version, but that brings the weight up to 2 lb 5 oz and adds $70 to the price. I don't know if the women's version comes in EQ or not.

By the way Chief, MountaingirlBC is from Canada, so why should she buy something made in the U.S.? By your reasoning, she should only buy something made in Canada, or at the very least only with down from Canadian Honkers! edit - Oops, just noticed she mentioned buying something made locally too, so is the U.S. 'local' to a Canadian?